Daily Betting Advice / Harry Bowles / 22 February 2011 /

It's not much of a card at Wetherby with various trainers opting to stay away, so we'll instead tackle the meeting at Taunton this afternoon.

14:00 - With Hopeful Start, Kap West and Secret Shared having shown nothing at all this season, the opening novice chase looks between Qokaz and Shoreacres. Qozak's record at this track speaks for itself, four from four, and he gave the impression there's more to come when readily beating Keki Buku by ten lengths earlier in the month. Shoreacres made a reasonable start over fences last season before falling at Plumpton. He's been off a year since, though, and even if the booking of McCoy strengthens his claims, Qozak is that bit more appealing with his form both recent and progressive.

14:30 - The novice hurdle which follows isn't a strong race by any means, and it's easy to see why Dark Lover is an odds-on favourite as things stand. Finding one to take him on has the feel of a pointless exercise as he's nigh-on certain to be in the first three, pure and simple, so he's another Nicholls-trained banker.

15:05 - Nothing exciting so far, but the handicap chase offers us a chance to make some headway. It's essentially an unappealing betting medium given the motley bunch who make up the field, but Vic's World will do for our purposes. Correct, she is a nine-year-old maiden, but she's got the best form to her name and looked as if still building up towards peak fitness at Leicester last time. Elsewhere, Kinkeel, Kirbys Glen, Rince Donn and Wasntme are all worthy of consideration to one degree or another without offering watertight cases. If the fitting of a tongue strap works for him, there's definitely a reason to imagine Laneguy could prove well treated on just his third start over fences, and whilst he's more one for an outright win bet, we'll incorporate him here, too, given the very modest nature of the opposition.

15:40 - James Cowley? You're forgiven for not knowing the name as the 10-lb claimer is having his first ride under Rules on Organisateur. I've done as much research (limited) as the internet will allow, and discovered that having worked for two years with Paul Nicholls he made a winning start in points a month ago. In some respects he is the key to this race as there's little question that the weight he takes off his mount's back leaves Organisateur with a cracking chance. As such, it's probably best to take a chance on Cowley's riding ability - it's most unlikely Nicholls would be harbouring a dud after all - and include the top weight in the perm. With just the seven runners we need to look elsewhere, too, Iolith is a novice on the up, but he still doesn't make quite the appeal of Ciceron. Whilst he was put up 9 lb for beating Karasenir just a head around here last month, he was better than the result that day and can progress further now that he - and his stable as a whole - has found his groove this season.

16:15 - There's no question that Just Amazing is the stand-out after his comprehensive success at Sandown on Friday. He went about things there in the style of one who can take high rank in the hunter division, but at the same time the run will surely have taken plenty out of him, unrelenting in going from the front, and it's perhaps best taking a chance on the fact he isn't in the same form this afternoon. Instead take the point form that the hardy Come What Augustus and Sheriff Roscoe bring to the table. The former boasts a formidable strike rate, whilst the latter is a front-running dual winner who has already proved himself over these obstacles. Ice Bucket made a reasonably encouraging start to life in hunters when runner-up at Ludlow earlier in the month (subsequently demoted to third), and he's also selected just in case the pointers fail to make the smooth transition they're expected to.

16:45 - Mr Bachster and E Street Boy are two who could well take off now handicaps are on the agenda, but neither has achieved enough hitherto for our purposes, and Chilbury Hill is much more a 'placepot' horse. He had no chance with the much-improved Mannlichen at Hereford last time, but he beat the remainder fair and square and should once again make his presence felt in a race where it's difficult to be unduly positive about the remainder. In fact, he's far and away the most solid, and therefore banker material.

Selections: 12 lines

14:00 - 1
14:30 - 1
15:05 - 1, 3
15:40 - 1, 3
16:15 - 7, 9, 13
16:45 - 7

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: